April 17, 2018

Scientists create mutant enzymes that eat plastic bottles - CNET. What if you could turn the millions of discarded plastic bottles back into oil? You wouldn't have to dig for oil ever again. Well, these scientists, by accident, discovered and improved an enzyme that eats plastic in days, not decades. And, once developed, it could be reconstituted and used for fuel again. Let's stop the posturing and fear mongering, and let the scientists do their work.

March 28, 2018

The Internet is filled with scary stories of a future in which drones are used as weapons to kill. I am guilty of this myself, having written about micro drones and robotic killer creatures. But, as with all new technology since time began, the tech can be used for good or evil. It is humankind that determines the use. I thought about the current debate over gun control when I started this post. If cars are used by drunks to kill, should be ban cars? If drones are used as weapons, should be ban them? Of course not. In fact, as this video shows, drones will soon be used to transport EM techs and their patients out of harm's way at accident scenes. There are hundreds of other uses for these devices. They are already being used on the battlefield; just as bomb techs and emergency personnel use robots to go into dangerous areas. Let's concentrate on controlling evil humans and let's not demonize technical devices that are created by us.

March 14, 2018

Stephen Hawking Reveals: "I Am More Convinced Than EVER That We Are Not Alone!" - Ideapod. Stephen Hawking died yesterday. May he rest in peace. His books were intended to be Relativity and Cosmology for Dummies. I never could get past a few pages; I couldn't understand half of what he said. One thing, however, I agree with. We are not alone. It defies probability that the millions of stars and planets out there don't have intelligent life. I also agree that we should leave them alone. It is likely that we are like insects to them. Another thought: if you are living life worrying about this or that, or depressed about this or that, take a look at what this man accomplished from a chair. Consider the difficulties he faced each day of his 76 years. If you need to be reminded why life is precious and should be savored each and every day, spend some time reading about Stephen Hawking. Enough said. Now, go live your day as if it is your last.

March 06, 2018

%u2018Potentially hazardous%u2019 asteroid bigger than Golden Gate bridge hurtles towards Earth %u2014 RT World News. I am pleased that asteroid 2017 VR12 will pass almost a million miles from earth tomorrow. I am also pleased that such a close call won't probably occur again for 170 plus years, well after I am gone from the planet. However, this doesn't mean that extinction level events don't, and won't, haunt earthers in the future. Of course, fate is fate; and, what will be, will be. It isn't rational to worry about it. You do what you can, and live your life. So, control what you can control; which is your own conduct, actions and reactions. Go in peace, grasshopper.

February 26, 2018

Okay, I am not one for fear mongering; but, the latest developments in robotics are a little scary. A robot that fights off human intervention does not give me a warm, fuzzy feeling. I thought that one of Asimov's three laws of robotics said that robots must always obey humans, if it might cause harm to a human? Or was that a second law. In any event, with superior strength, a robot could destroy a flimsy human. Always remember, though, that the robot was built and programmed by another human. So, maybe it is the human builders we need to fear. Of course, the time will come when robots become self aware, and they can build more robots. Then, we are screwed. But, then, I saw the new Annihilator movie last night, which postulates that the end will come with a biological contaminant. Or, is it the reshaping of our DNA for a better transhuman future? My head hurts.

February 23, 2018

Cyber Warfare Market Size & Share | Global Industry Report, 2014-2025. If you want some scary statistics, read this Market Research Report on the size of the Cyber Warfare market. The spending is astronomical, and will increase exponentially in the coming years. If you something to be afraid of, fear the evil or incompetent government hacks who will control future technology. Long before AI becomes self aware, humans with evil or stupid motives will control technology that can decimate the planet, and computers will be fighting other computers while under the control of humans. Can we avoid the final conflict? So far we have avoided destroying the planet with thermonuclear weapons. But, computers can kill us like frogs in a pan of water. We won't even realize we are boiled until it is too late.

February 18, 2018

People are injuring themselves by walking into glass at the Apple campus, reportedly - SFGate. Apple's new $5 Billion campus in Cupertino, California has a lot of glass walls and doors. Surprise, surprise, it is being reported that many employees are walking into the glass walls and injuring themselves. The first case I did in my law school class on trial practice was a common one; a lawsuit for injuries sustained in a place of business with glass doors that didn't have something on the glass to focus the eyes, like the stickers you see often. I learned that the eyes tend to focus on solid objects, making intervening glass or transparent walls invisible. The result? Duh. You walk into the glass. Now, Apple has billions of dollars to spend on lawyers, engineers and other professionals. I find it hard to believe that none of them questioned the likelihood of the transparency effect creating this type of outcome. What did Apple know, and when did they know it?

February 16, 2018

We're told to fear robots. But why do we think they'll turn on us? | Popular Science. Those who don't learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. The hype over the alleged coming Robopocalypse reminds me of other times in history when a false fear has been used by despots to feed their megalomaniac vision and to attempt to enslave others. I hope we are rational enough to remember the past. Our future has never been brighter, and AI and robotics and science are some of the reasons. We live longer, are healthier, have more time to consider our place in the world, feed our families, help those less fortunate, and many other worthwhile endeavors. My current mission of reaching others before they have lost a loved one, in order to help them realize the impermanence of life and loving, would not be possible without the marvelous technology of the Internet. Far from isolating us (remember the hype about the Internet in the early days?), the Internet has made us a connected world. Yes, our connections are virtual; but, we can choose to make them real anytime we wish. And, we can fly scientific marvels to make that happen. Enjoy your life. Today is your day. Use technology for good.

February 13, 2018

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid. And you thought the prospect of SkyNet and the Terminator were scary? There are some very real technologies that could, in the future, be used to enslave us all. From computer interfaces that could remotely control humans from across the world, to drones that can kill from across the world, these ten technologies have to be carefully watched and controlled in order to avoid some pretty horrific results. As with all technology, it won't be the tech that kills, however. It will be the humans who misuse it.

Scientists Invent %u2018Super Wood%u2019 That Is Strong As Steel And Can Stop Bullets, Too. Today is turning into how to protect yourself from killer robots day. The invention of a chemical process that increases the density of wood and makes it stronger than steel is a first step. Build your house out of superwood, and the bad robots won't be able to penetrate your abode with simple bullets. Of course, they might increase their firepower and then you are dead; but, you will have a little while to gather your thoughts before they kill you. There are also non violent uses for super wood, as in wood houses that last a long time, and preserve the rain forests. I am always looking for ways to make your life better.

Lawyer,Poet, author, educator. Practices real property, corporation, wills, trusts and estates law in Pinellas County, Florida. Writes the FutureLawyer column. Gives seminars on technology and the law. Author of "Life is Simple, Really", Poems about Life, Loving, Family and Fun.